Abusive man ejected from ambulance

An abusive man had to be ejected from an ambulance after using swearing at paramedics trying to treat a facial injury, a court has heard.

Neil Black, 50, of Alder Road, Ribbleton, Preston, admits being drunk and disorderly on January 30.

Preston Magistrates’ Court heard police officers called to a disturbance outside a house on Fishwick Parade found Black lying on the ground with a bleeding nose.

Prosecuting, Jim Mowbray said: “He claimed someone had punched him in the face but when police spoke to people in the house they said he had punched a woman and she had punched him in self defence.”

He said Black kept swearing about the woman and was staggering around while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

He also made a homophobic comment.

While staff were treating him, he swore at them and ripped off medical equipment.

The paramedics told police they were unable to treat him any further and he was removed from the ambulance.

Black then shouted he was a “Hertfordshire boy” and threatened to attack them.

Defending himself in court, he said: “I’m an alcoholic and have been for 21 years. I’m addressing my issues.”

“I have a relationship with the people involved in the incident now we were all as bad as each other that night.”

After the case, a spokesman from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said: “Our ambulance crews and call handlers work extremely hard to help people and save lives and it is disgraceful that so many of them are subject to unprovoked abuse and assaults.

“The Trust takes a zero tolerance approach to any form of abuse and we will always support our staff to report any violence or aggression towards them and encourage them to press charges to ensure appropriate action is taken against the perpetrator.

“Attacks and abuse against our crews can have a major effect, not only on the Trust’s resources, but in the long term, as it can impact on their personal and professional life and even play a part in them considering leaving the job and this is the last thing we would want.

“Abuse can come from patients, their family and friends and even those who are not directly involved in the incidents our staff are called to attend. Every member of staff plays a vital role in serving communities by helping to deliver the highest standards of care and staff should be able to fulfil their life-saving role without abuse or fear.

“Those who commit these acts should ask themselves – if their parent, grandparent or child was waiting too long for an ambulance because an assault has taken a vehicle off the road, would they find that acceptable?”